Financial Assistance

The School of Art, Design and Art History bestows the following scholarships and awards annually. These awards of distinction recognize undergraduate student achievement and encourage students’ artistic and intellectual growth at James Madison University. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and other donors the following scholarships are currently offered. Since 1987 award funds have also been raised through the James Madison University Art Auction.

Made available starting the Freshman year and on:

MARLENE & PETER COE VISUAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIPThe Marlene & Peter Coe Visual Arts Scholarship was given to benefit a full-time freshman student who demonstrated a capacity to make a contribution to the visual arts community at JMU. Priority is given to students from Patrick County, Virginia from a single parent household. If no candidates meet these criteria, students from other geographic areas and household types will be considered. It is renewable for up to four years of an undergraduate education provided the recipient shows satisfactory academic progress and continues to make contributions to James Madison’s visual arts programs. The recipient is recognized at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

NEW MARKET ARTS & CRAFTS SCHOLARSHIP Freshmen through senior art and art history majors who are Virginia residents (and Shenandoah County or the Shenandoah Valley are given precedence) are eligible for the New Market Arts & Crafts Scholarship. Candidates must have an interest in preserving the arts and crafts of Virginia. Art majors are nominated and selected on the basis of their artwork by School of Art, Design and Art History faculty during the Freshmen Portfolio Reviews. Students are self-nominated in January and are selected on the basis of a statement concerning their interest in preserving the arts and crafts of Virginia, artistic or scholarly work, and two letters of reference. The award is made on an annual basis and may be received more than once by the same student. It is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Exhibition in April.

P. BUCKLEY MOSS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP This scholarship was established to benefit an entering freshman studying in the School of Art, Design and Art History who has a documented learning disability (registered in the JMU Office of Disability Services). Candidates submit the application for the scholarship to the Office of Disability Services before the Thanksgiving Holiday of their first year. The School of Art, Design and Art History Honors and Awards Committee juries the award. Recipients must have and maintain a 2.75 grade point average. The student continues to receive the scholarship until graduation as long as the criteria are met. If at any time the recipient fails to meet the requirements or when the student graduates, a new candidate will be selected.

J. BINFORD WALFORD SCHOLARSHIP This scholarship was established by the estate of J. Binford Walford to encourage students to pursue an architectural career upon graduation from JMU. Awards are based on a juried portfolio review and a written application conducted annually in the Spring of each year. Three to five awards are made each year.

Made available starting Sophomore year and on:

KATHLEEN G. ARTHUR SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDY IN FLORENCE, ITALY This scholarship will be given to an art history major who wishes to study on the James Madison University’s Semester in Florence. Students must be a sophomore, junior or senior major in the B.A. program with a g.p.a. of 2.8 or better. Students should apply in November for study abroad in the summer, fall or spring of the following academic year. They should submit their transcript, a copy of the Semester in Florence application and an additional essay describing the goals of their study in Florence. Selection is made by a committee of art historians. The award funds will be approximately $1000 per annum, which may be awarded to one student or divided between successful applicants.

DR. JAY D. KAIN ART EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Rising juniors and seniors studying in the art education program are eligible for this endowed scholarship established to honor Dr. Jay D. Kain, former director of the School of Art and Art History. Candidates are nominated by the Art Education faculty, and must exhibit outstanding academic scholarship, have a 3.0 grade point average, and complete an application including a short essay describing their expected career path in art education. Students submit a written, oral/or visual presentation, activity or paper and a letter of recommendation from a JMU faculty member or high school art teacher to the Art Education coordinator in February. The recipient will receive the scholarship for one year, but is eligible to reapply in subsequent years. The Art Education faculty will jury the award and select the winner. If at any time the recipient fails to meet the grade point requirements, another recipient will be selected based on the established criteria. The award is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

SUZANNE LUCK SCHOLARSHIP Rising junior studio art and art history majors who have completed a minimum of 59 and maximum of 75 credit hours by the end of the spring semester are eligible for this award in honor of an SADAH art alumna. Students are nominated by the faculty and must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (which must be maintained throughout the award). The scholarship is juried by the SADAH Honors and Award Committee, is awarded for a single academic year and is not renewable. It is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

Made available during Junior year:

KARYN GUNTHER SMITH DINGLEDINE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN ART IN THE COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS This scholarship was established in honor of Thomas A. Dingledine's spouse, Karyn Dingledine, and is intended for students pursuing a degree in studio art who demonstrate a financial need. To be eligible, a student must be a rising senior majoring in art who demonstrates financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Recipients will be selected in a manner determined at the discretion of the Dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts in consultation with the Associate Dean of the College and the Director of the School of Art, Design and Art History. The recipient is recognized at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS IN ARTNumber of awards varies per year Junior studio art and art education majors are eligible for artistic/scholarly achievement awards based on achievement in the student’s major concentration. This is evidenced by three pieces of work within their area. Area faculty members nominate outstanding candidates. The award is juried by faculty in that area in February and is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN ART HISTORY Number of awards varies per year Junior Art History majors are eligible for this award based on scholarship in art history, as evidenced by a research paper or exhibition catalog project. Art History faculty members nominate outstanding students. Students submit a research paper or project from a 300-400 level art history class. The award is juried by art history faculty in February and is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

ROB MILLER GRAPHIC DESIGN SCHOLARSHIP This award was created in honor of former JMU graphic design alum Rob Miller, class of 1997. Rob passed away in 2002. His parents, Dr. & Mrs. Martin Miller and his close JMU friend, Daniel Hoeck, committed to giving this award. This award is given annually to graphic design majors who are rising seniors and have shown outstanding accomplishments in their artwork as undergraduates at James Madison University..

Honors celebrated at the culmination of Senior year:

ART HISTORY FORUM AWARD Junior and senior art history students are eligible to participate in Art History and Anthropology Forum in March, an annual event in which students present their research to faculty and student colleagues. Art History faculty members nominate outstanding students who then submit a research paper from a 300-400 level art history class. Art history faculty members select the participants and work with students to help prepare their presentations. After the forum, art history faculty selects the outstanding presentation award. The winner may go on to participate in an undergraduate session at a professional conference. The award is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

CRYSTAL THEODORE SERVICE WITH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDArt or art history majors in the BS, BA and BFA programs are eligible for this award, which recognizes a combination of outstanding scholarship with service to the School of Art, Design and Art History. Senior level students are given highest priority in the selection process. Service activities include participation in Sawhill and artWorks Galleries, the Art Education student club, volunteer work with the School of Art, Design and Art History and community service related to historic preservation, museums or galleries. Students are nominated by School of Art, Design and Art History faculty or self-nominated in February, and selected on the basis of the following criteria: over 3.0 overall grade point average, an application accompanied with written document of service activities, and recommendation letters from faculty. The award is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

FRANCES GROVE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Senior art or art history major (or double majors) with the highest grade point average in the School of Art, Design and Art History are eligible for this award. Students must be in the B.A., B.S. or B.F.A. degree programs. School of Art, Design and Art History faculty nominates students based upon their total grade point average, and their Art or Art History grade point average and select the winner in February. The award is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

SENIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS IN ART Six awards Senior art majors enrolled in BS, BA, BFA programs are eligible for artistic/ scholarly achievement in studio art or art education. Candidates are nominated by SADAH faculty, and then submit three pieces of studio work. Art Education students must present a written, oral/or visual presentation or activity. The award is juried by School of Art, Design and Art History faculty in February and is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

SENIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN ART HISTORY Senior Art History majors and minors are eligible for this award based on scholarship in art history, as evidenced by a research paper and coursework. Art History faculty members nominate outstanding students. Students submit a research paper or project from a 300-400 level art history class. The award is juried by art history faculty in February and is presented at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the opening of the Undergraduate Student Show in April.

ALAN TSCHUDI OUTSTANDING SENIOR STUDIO ART AWARD This award recognizes the outstanding graduating senior studio art major who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in studio art. The studio art faculty nominates senior major candidates. The student who received the highest number of votes in the Art Achievement award jury process receives this award. The award is announced at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the Undergraduate Student Art Exhibit in April and at the college graduation ceremony in May.

MARTHA B. CALDWELL OUTSTANDING SENIOR ART HISTORY AWARD This award recognizes the outstanding graduating senior art history major who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in art history. The art history faculty nominates senior major candidates. The criteria include excellence in art history coursework (as demonstrated by a high cumulative grade point average) originality of thinking in research papers or projects, and outstanding potential in the field of art history. The award is announced at the Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the Undergraduate Student Art Exhibit in April and at the college graduation ceremony in May.